Successful deer repellant

Sharon4457May 31, 2010

Bonide Organic Repels-All Animal Repellen

A salesman at Pike's recommended this. I've been using it for about one month and so far, I've not had any 'nibbling' or 'chowing down' on my plants - ones that I know the deer ate last year. Once sprayed it's good for 2 months, but it's recommended to spray new growth. It smells HORRIBLE, but so far it's doing the trick.

I also sprayed (mildly soaked) some of my flower / lily bulbs in hopes that the voles/chipmunks will leave them alone, too. We'll see if it works. On another forum I read that =Bonide bulb dust - also works. I may try that along with the spray.

It probably smells horrible because it's made from rotten eggs and pepper spray! I use Deer-Off and that's what it is made of. Just don't get any in your eyes. The smell dissipates after you spray, but the deer can still smell it.

It must be similar to Deer Off which I credit for saving our tomatoes last year. The year before we harvested only one tomato off of more than 30 plants. The deer even ate the green ones. Last year, after using Deer Off, they were not touched.

I've been using garlic - bought it in a concentrate and mix with water and spray around the garden beds. We've been doing it for about 10 days now - re-spraying when it rains - and no deer. They were becoming nightly visitors before this. The smell is a bit intense, but it is working (knock wood).

I also use liquid fence and it works well.
I have a stand of swamp salvia, I am going to cut some up and mulch around the hostas weekly and see if that works. The smell may deter the deer and maybe the oil will be absorbed.

Now how's this for weird? We've had two does visiting the yard -- they walk right past a TON of hostas -- ignore the raised veggie beds -- and nibble wild violets and volunteer mimosa. (Yay! Munch away on those!)

The deer never bother anything I like.

Now if I could just say the same for the dang squirrels. They are already eyeing my tomatoes! :)